Cubs Rumors

This is the time of year when rumors fly from every direction. Teams are trying to figure out if they are buyers or sellers. The latter is a decision the Cubs have made from almost day 1. They are selling and selling hard. This team could look drastically different by the first day of August. Here are some of the rumblings:

The Cubs are shopping everyone. The first name to go is probably Ryan Dempster. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Cubs don’t want to wait until July 31st to deal Dempster. Sherman says that Dempster could be the first big name to be traded and then the market will begin to heat up. The Cubs look poised to trade Dempster by the end of the week. There are at least 10 teams interested in Dempster. The Dodgers and Tigers seem like the best fits.

Matt Garza is the big name on the Cubs. Everyone has been asking about him and every contender wants him. The Cubs know that and are asking a lot for him in return. They will have to get that in order to trade him this year. Garza has a kid on the way and said he remains open to an extension. He also is under team control next year, so there is a lot of time for an extension. The Cubs have gotten calls from almost every contender, even the Royals have inquired. There is a huge market and, with Dempster Gone, the market will be wide open for Garza. The best suitors are probably the Blue Jays if they decide to make that move.

Bryan LaHair is being shopped actively by the Cubs, according to Jayson Stark. With Anthony Rizzo hitting everything, LaHair seems expendable. The Cubs can probably get a decent prospect in return, but the market for LaHair is limited. He probably has a 50-50 chance of being trade this year. According to the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs don’t believe he is an everyday outfielder and that is why he is being shopped. Maybe the Reds, now that Votto is hurt?

Darwin Barney’s name has been in the news a lot recently. He has drawn interest from many teams, including the Tigers. The hang-up for Barney is that the Cubs are asking for a starting second basemen and other teams don’t believe he is worth that. The Tigers seem like the best fit.

Alfonso Soriano has been everywhere in the news, but the market is not as hot as the Cubs would like. Soriano has a lot of money left on his deal, but the Cubs are willing to eat it. That would clear an outfield spot for Brett Jackson as well. The teams most interested are Orioles and Rays. They seem like good fits and it would give Soriano a DH slot.

There are many Cubs that could be dealt. Geovany Soto, David Dejesus, Joe Mather, Reed Johnson, Paul Maholm, Shawn Camp, and Carlos Marmol all could go. The team could look totally different in a month. Cubbies Crib will keep you posted.